Root crop digger



March 15, 1949. l.. GREAVES RooT CROP BIGGER 4 Sheet-sL-VSheet 1 Filed Feb. 15, 1945 March 15, 1949. L.. GRE-.AVES

RooT CROP bIGGER y 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 15, i945 March 15, 1949. L. GREAVES ROOT CROP DIGGER Filed F'eb, l5, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 15, 1949. GREAvEs ROOT*CROP DIGGER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. l5, 1945 Patented Mar. 15, 1949 'Leopold Greaves,

Kirleiield Park, Manitoba, Canada i Appiicatiqnrebmary 15, 1945, serial No. 578,007

, 1 My'invention'relates to root crop diggers, an object ofthe invention beingto providev an implement of the character herewithin described which is primarily designed for the harvesting oi potatoes, the implement being tractor drawn, and functioning to remove soil andthe likefrom the potatoes -by a tumblingaction'at the same time aselevating the same to an altitude such that they may be transferred to a wagon or truck moving alongside.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described from which the potatoes rmayy be transferredto a wagon or truck as aforesaid, alternatively may be bagged, and if desired, graded and automatically bagged according to sizeall while the machine is in motion harvesting `potatoes in the row.

A further object of my invention is vto provide a device of thecharacter herewithin described which is of eminently simplied construction, in which all vthe parts are easy of access, whichk is easy to operate and will not readily become out of order. y

With the above more important objects in View and' suchother minor 'objects as may appear as the specication proceeds, my'inventi'on consists essentially inl theY arrangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the' accompanying drawingsfin which- Figure 1 is a side elevation but with certain parts shown in section, of the 'forward part of my implement. f

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the'rear end' of my implement.

Figure 3 is a front'view illustrating my front end pony wheels and associated parts only and as viewed from 3-3 of Figure l, the structure posterior to the said wheels being eliminated for simplicity;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3 v v Figure 5 is a plan view of the front end of my root `crop digger. v

Figure 6 is a plan View of the rear end of my root crop digger and discharge conveyor belt.

Figure 'l is an elevation partly in section illustrating the upper end of my implement as viewed from the rear end thereof.

Figure V8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Figure 6. f

Figure 9 is aperspective detail illustrating the slatted configuration of my conveying and tumbling belts.

2 Claims. (C1. 55-51) Figure 10 is a perspective representation of my refuse removing drum.

Figure 11 is a side'sectional elevation' of the short oscillating grader whichr I may substitute for the primary discharge conveyor belt illustrated in Figure 6.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional elevation illustrating the outer end of a longer oscillating potato grader which I may substitute for the grader of Figure l1 and whichy is intended to lie within the trough provided for the discharge conveyorbelt best illustrated in Figure 6.

Figure '13 is a fragmentary sectional illus-A tration of the reduction gearing whereby I raise and lower my subsurface 'blade and associated parts.

In the drawings like characters 'of reference indicate corresponding par-ts in the different iigures.r V

My invention consists of the framework col-n lectively designated l in lthe accompanying Figures l, 2, 4, 5 and 6, the framework'being predominantly sheathed with sheet metal 2. The

device is intended' to be tractory drawn in the direction of the arrow 3,' and from Figure 5 will be seen to be of a narrow longitudinal coniigura-` tion when viewed in plan, kand of a predominently triangular congurationwhen viewed from the side as per Figures 1 and 2.

The framework is supported clear of the ground r` by the pair ofground engaging Wheels 4 which are mounted on'the transverse axle 5,' this axle being positioned slightly to the rear of the centre of balance of the implement so that it is slightly which depends a bearing ll through which a` pin I2 extends lto support rotatably the cam lever Positioned slightly below the crosshead Ill and parallel vtherewith is a shaft t4 which extendsv through verticaland opposed slots l5 upon the inner surfaces of the sleeve 9, the ends of the shaftV I4 being receivable into annular keyways I6 formed in the shaft 8; The sleeves arev integral with plates I1 extending therebehind,

which plates are also secured to the front endl of my framework I, and from the foregoing ity will clearly be apparent that' upon rotation clockwise (with respect to the accompanying Figure 4) of my cam lever I3, the cam it thereof will bear against the shaft I4 and cause the sleeve 9, the crosshead iii, the plates Il and the whole front end of my framework to be lifted so that the implement may be transported from one place to another.

Between the plates l'l'is my inclining, transverse, subsurface blade ,I9 the advancing edge whereof is intended to be projected below ground level for the purpose of raising potatoes and other root crops to the surface. of the blade I9 are shovels 20 provided with the slots 2|, the front ends of the horizontal portions 22 of the shovels being arcuate as` at23 and com.

plementary to the curvature of rolling coulters 24 which are secured in position by brackets 25 secured against the inner surface of the'horizontal portion 22 of the shovels aforesaid.

By reference to the detail Figure 13, it will be seen that I provide a pair of spaced brackets 26 of double angulated configuration, the ends whereof are suitablyl secured to the shovels 2l),` a toothed rack 2 being secured centrally upon the brackets 26. This rack is acted ,upon to move the blade I 9 and the associated parts in the directions Secured to the sides .for more or less) to the set, these slats being of plano-convex cross-section and secured at the "ends thereof to the side chain. Separating each set however is a pair of transversely aligned and upwardly projecting brackets 56 spanning which of the arrow 28, by the pinion 29 mounted in the transverse shaft 36 the `ends whereof aresecured in theuside plates Il.v The pinion 29 is in turn acted upon by theworm gear 3l mounted upon the' shaft 32 sustained in place by bearings 33 secured to the transverse brackets 34, apinionj being keyed to the lower end of the shaft 32 yand in mesh with aworm gear 36 .mounted upon the transverse'shaft 37 the outer end of whichwterf minates in a handle 38.

The side plates Il7 constitute the front end wall portions of a rearwardly and upwardly inclining open-ended channel 39, within which is positioned myl rearwardly` and upwardly inclning, progressively stepped Aconveying and tumbling system which I will now proceed to describe.

The saidsystem comprises a series `of upwardly and rearwardly inclining belts of the configuration, and operated in the manner hereinafter to be described, and yconsidering first the foremost belt 40,'the`same will be seen togconsist of a pair of sprocket chains 4I in mesh at the frontv and rear ends with pairs of sprocket wheels 42 and, 4,3 respectively mounted upon transverse shafts 4,4

andf45, `The shaft 45 projects upon one side of my ,implement (see Figure 5), and has keyed\ thereto 'asprocket 46 in mesh with/a driving sprocket chain 4T.

Spanning the sprocket chains 4l and Ysecured` r at the ends thereto are slatsv I8l of rectangular crossfsection, ,these slatsalternating with transverse pieces of angle section 49 parallel with the slats a's illustrated'in Figure 1v from which it will be seen that theshaft M is so located with respect to the `underside andrearedge of my subsurface blade I9, that the belt 40 will receive potatoes crowded over the said rearedge and proceedto convey the same upwardlyand rear;v

wardly.

The second conveying beltf is comprisedI of, a similarpair ofy sprocket chains to those ofthe belt 49, the chains of the belt 50 being in mesh with are the rods 57i, which in turn sustain in place the freely mounted -lig'ht metal tubes 58. These therefore occupy a plane above the plane of the sets of slats 55 and function as barriers against those potatoes orthelike which tumblefrom the Eilf duringmovemcntof thea'ssociatedbelt.-

'"fhe shaft projectsupon ,one side of the machine and has keyed thereto a sprocket'wheel,V 59 which drives4 the aforesaidhchain. 4l, and, at, the outer end thereofl'a pinion 66, 'This pinion is in. ineshlwith and ,dljivenfby a large king pinion di vfreely mounted upon'the vshaftg,v a clutch mechanism 62 ybeing positioned betweenthe` pinion iand the adjacent ground wheeld, `by the operation of which .the former maybe disconnected Yfrom the .lattenwhen the implement is being transported from oneplace to another,

at which time obviously, it will not be desired thatA my series of belts should be in operation.y

The thirdlconveyor ,belt 63 will preferably have a system of transverse slats similary to the belt 5i), and is tensioned between the sprocket wheels` @Il ,and 65, mounted upon the shaftsI 66 .and 61 respectively,k the former occupying thesarne` relationship to the shaft 54, as the-$haft 53 bears 4 to theshaft 35 and which has al-.l

with relation l ready been discussed.

rh@ Shaft ci projette and terminates innate] pinion 6 3 which is also in mesh with thevking pinion QSI, thebelt 63 therefore being ldriven directly'bythis means.

To the Vrear of meten; es is e foiir'ih conveyor,

beltg which, it will be noticed is `somewhat less Vsteeply inclined than fare the belts inV advance, thereof, the slats of the belt69 beingpreferably..`

simiiar ternes@ of the belts 5u and sa.. Beitfss is tensioned between the pairs of sprocket wheels it and V'II the vlatter being mounted on the'transverse shaft l2 which projects upon each side of the framework as will be seen .by reference to Figure 6, randhas keyed to one ofthe outer ends thereof, a sprocket wheel 'i3 in meshwith the chain 'M which is driven by thewheel 15 keyed to the end of countereshaft 16, `onwhich isalso keyed a pinion 'Il in mesh with the king pinion. 6 I.

Above and to the rear of the pinionvand shaft assembly 'II and 'i2 is a refuse removing roller 'I8 mounted upon the shaft '[9, `which also projects upon. one side of framework, ,andhasfVVV keyed to the end` thereof va pulley 89 over which front and rear sprocket wheels 5I and 52 mounted on thev transverse shafts 53. and 5tlg,V it being clearly recognized from the accompanying .Figa

ure 1 that the shaft and sprocket wheel assembly extent 'such that potatoes being precipitated fromv passes the beltV Si, driven from a pulley `dkeyed to the opposite end of the .shaft 'l2 to thatto v which the sprocket wheel 73 is keyed.

The drum 'i8 rotates inra clockwise directim with respect to the accompanying Figure 2, and

has provided thereon aligned sets of staggered.

refuse pickers 83 of theconguration clearly illustrated, the proximity of .the outer` ends of these pickers with relation tothe slats of the be'1t;,6$l;,`

being such that potatoes may pass clearly froml will be engaged by the pickers and thrown rearwardly as indicated by the arrow 84 into the hood 85 and from thence downwardly through the refuse chute 86 onto the ground. In this way refuse will be deposited immediately to the rear of my implement in rows, without being vscattered all over the field being harvested.

Positioned at right angles to thel channel 39 at the rear end of the implement and secured to the framework as best illustrateduin the accompanying FiguresZ, 6, 7 and 8 is a trough 8l in which is positioned the horizontal lying discharge conveyor belt 88 which alsoV comprises spaced and parallel slats 39, in this instance of rectangular cross-section and secured at the ends thereof upon a pair of sprocket chains 90, the belt being tensioned lbetween pairs of sprocket wheels 9| and 92, thewheels 92 being keyed to a drive shaft 93 to the projecting end of which is also keyed a bevelled pinionr 94. This pinion is in mesh with a pinion 95 keyed medially upon the length of l the .projecting portion of the shaft l2.

Attachable to the open end 96 of the trough 81 is a longer trough 91 supported by the diagonal braces 98, and being provided at the far end 98 thereof with a transverse shaft 99 having a pair of sprocket wheels mounted thereon. Therefore, when it is desired that potatoes which have been harvested shall be precipitated into a truck or wagon moving alongside my implement, A

I Would explain that a longer conveyor` belt Nil is substituted for the belt 88 which is detached, the belt |0| extending from the pair of sprocket wheels 9| to the pair |00 and being driven by the pair of wheels 92. Potatoes now being harvested will tumble off the open end 98 instead of falling through the bagger |02 supported upon one side of the framework by means of the brackets |03. This bagger is of course of conventional construction and need not therefore be described in detail.

In substitution of the belts 88 and |0|, I may if desired provide the oscillating grader boards |04 or |05 illustrated in Figures 11 and l2, these boards being of conventional construction and having a corrugated surface |06 having apertures |01 therein through which potatoes of less than a given size may be precipitated onto a chute |08 integral with the boards 504 or |05. The boards, of whichever length it is desired to employ, are provided upon the rear edge with the sideboards |09, and by reference to Figure 11, it will be seen that one end of the board is secured by means of the link |0 to the sprocket shaft a connecting rod |i2 extending between a hinge I3 on the underside of the board and a cranked portion ||4 formed centrally of the shaft 81 upon the shaft 93. Accordingly, upon rotation of the shaft 93, it is clear that the board will oscillate so as to grade the potatoes and cause them to move leftwardly with respect to the accompanying Figure 11, the board being slightly7 inclined downwardly towards the left. The graded potatoes then fall through onto the chute |08 and from thence through the aperture ||5 through the bagger IB, while the ungraded potatoes tumble over the open end of the chute 37 through the bagger |02 aforesaid.

In the event that it is desired that the potatoes should proceed into a, truck or wagon travelling alongside my implement, the trough 97 will be attached, together with the grading board |05 which is secured at theright hand end .thereof in the manner I have described in connection with the board wt, the board |05 being similarly oscillated. rThe'left hand end howeverfis .provided withthe strap which secures the board slidably to the shaft 99, and upon oscilla.

tion of this board, it is clearly to be understood that potatoes will tumble .off the left handendy thereof into the `truck or wagon while the .graded potatoes will gravitate through the open Vend.

i3 of the trough intov another compartment in the wagon or truck, or if desired, througha bagger secured in any conventional way .to the trough. g f

yFrom all the foregoing, it will be recognized that as my implement moves forwardly, with the king pinion 5i in clutched engagement with the drive eect of `cleaning the same of soil and the like,

and in this connection, it is lto be understood that I will preferably' so gear the several belts that they will lmove at considerablespeed in order that there may be substantial slippage .and tumbling action. In other words, the potatoes will not be positively conveyed upwardly and rearwardly at the same rate as the belts are travelling.

To summarize the sequence of operation of the several belts, it will be recognized that belt i0 is driven by the sprocket wheel 49 from the chain 41 which is in mesh with sprocket wheel 59 keyed to the shaft 50 and driven by the pinion 60 from the king pinion 0|. Belt 50 is also driven from the shaft 545 to which the pair of sprocket wheels 5t are keyed while belt 53 is driven by pinion 0B which is keyed to shaft 6T, to which, in turn, the pair of drive sprocket wheels 55 are also keyed in this instance.

Belt 59 is driven by pinion l's' keyed via the shaft "it to the sprocket wheel 'l5 which in turn is in mesh with chain lil, chain 'M in turn meshing with sprocket wheel 13 keyed upon lthe shaft 12 to which the pair of sprocket wheels 'El are also keyed to drive the belt 59 aforesaid.

Rotation of the remaining parts is self -apparent from a consideration of the accompanying Figures 2 and 5, and since various modifications can be made in the invention herein described and since the accompanying drawings have been prepared only to illustrate the relative arrangement and interaction of parts and not with regard to accuracy cf dimensions for manufacturing purposes which in view of this disclosure I consider to entail merely mechanical skill together with the skill of .se mechanical draftsman, and since many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention may be made within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the same it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specication shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense and I desire only such limitations placed thereon as justice dictates.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A root crop digger comprising in combination a longitudinal framework supported on apair of ground engaging wheels in a state of slight front end overbalance, a pair of pony wheels on the front end of said framework, a rearwardly and upwardly inclining, progressively stepped conveying and tumbling system within said framework, said conveying and tumbling system l` being positionedv in an upwardly and-rearwardly inclining open-ended channel and comprising a plurality of separate, upwardly and rearwardly inclining belts, a refuse picking drum at the rear end of said conveying and tumbling system, ,a

hood extendingat least partially over said drum,

a downwardly extending refuse chute at the rear of said framework, said hood being coterminous with said chute, a transverse subsurface blade at the front end of said channel, and a discharge conveyor at the rear end of said system at right angles thereto.

2.A A root crop digger comprising in combination a longitudinal framework supported on a pair of ground engaging wheels in a state-of slight front end overbalance, a pair of pony wheels on the front endof said framework, a rearwardly and upwardly inclining, progressively stepped conveying and tumbling system within said framework-said conveying and tumbling system being positioned in `an upwardly and rearwardly inclining open-ended channel, and comprising a plurality of separate, upwardly and rearwardly inclining belts, at least one of said belts being corn.

prised of a plurality of transverse, spaced and parallel slats of plano-convex cross section and a pair of transversely aligned, upwardly projecting brackets at intervals on said bel-t, tubes sparta ning saidlbrackets in` a plane above that of said slats for the purpose specied, a transverse subsurface blade at the front end of said channel,l and a discharge conveyor at the rear end4 of saidsystem at right langleslthereto. v

- v Y LEOPOLD GREAVESM REFERENCES CITED The following references are4 of record in the le of this patent:

`UNITED STATES PATENTS,y 

